org.openqa.selenium.remote.UnreachableBrowserException: Could not start a new session error with Selenium and IE11 using Java

Question

I'm trying to automate my test cases using Selenium with the following software applications.

• WebDriver 3.12.0
• InternetExplorerDriver3.150.1
• IE11 browser
• Java1.8.0.231

Here's my script to initialize the driver.

System.setProperty("webdriver.ie.driver","driver path");
driver = new InternetExplorerDriver();
System.out.println("Driver initialized.");
driver.get("application web url");

For the above script, I'm getting the below error message.

org.openqa.selenium.remote.UnreachableBrowserException: Could not start a new session....

I have tried with different versions of drivers and selenium webdriver. But didn't workout. What could be the cause and how can I resolve it?

Could anyone give me your suggestions?

Thanks,
Karunagara Pandi G

Answer 1

This error message...

org.openqa.selenium.remote.UnreachableBrowserException: Could not start a new session....

...implies that the IEDriverServer was unable to initiate/spawn a new WebBrowsing Session ie InternetExplorer Browser session.

Your main issue is the incompatibility between the version of the binaries you are using as follows:

• Your Selenium WebDriver Client version is 3.12.0 which is a bit older.
• Your InternetExplorerDriver version 3.150.1 .

So there is a clear mismatch between Selenium Client v3.12.0 , IEDriverServer v3.150.1 .

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Solution

• Upgrade Selenium to current levels Version 3.141.59 .
• Upgrade IEDriverServer to IEDriverServer v3.141.59 or IEDriverServer v3.150.0 level.
• Clean your Project Workspace through your IDE and Rebuild your project with required dependencies only.
• Execute your Test as a non-root user.
• Always invoke driver.quit() within tearDown(){} method to close & destroy the WebDriver and Web Client instances gracefully.

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tl; dr

• Internet Explorer Protective mode setting and Zoom levels
• Internet Explorer not launched using selenium even though ignoreProtect mode settings are enabled
• How does the registry entry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\…\FEATURE_BFCACHE for InternetExplorerDriver solves the Internet Explorer 11 issue?